Matthew 10:29–42

²⁹Are not two sparrows sold for a penny?⁹ And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. ³⁰But ^meven the hairs of your head are all numbered. ³¹Fear not, therefore; ⁿyou are of more value than many sparrows. ^32oSo everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, ³³but ^pwhoever denies me before men, ^qI also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.

Not Peace, but a Sword

^34r“Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. ^sI have not come to bring peace, but a sword. ^35rFor I have come ^tto set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. ^36uAnd a person’s enemies will be those of his own household. ^37vWhoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. ³⁸And ^wwhoever does not take his cross and ^xfollow me is not worthy of me. ^39yWhoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

Rewards

^40z“Whoever receives you receives me, and ^awhoever receives me receives him who sent me. ^41bThe one who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and the one who receives a righteous person because he is a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. ⁴²And ^cwhoever gives one of ^dthese little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.”